Upon concluding his second term as governor of New Jersey in 2017, Chris Christie stated his desire to have fun and make money. True to his word, Christie wasted no time in pursuing these goals. He attended a Bruce Springsteen performance on his first day out of office and met with executives from DraftKings, a fantasy sports company that stood to benefit from the Christie administration’s support for legalizing sports betting. He later became a consultant for DraftKings, leveraging his influence with state officials.
Over the past six years, Christie has consistently capitalized on his connections and political profile to generate personal wealth. He established a federal lobbying and consulting firm called Christie 55 Solutions, engaged in a multimillion-dollar real estate venture with a donor, secured a contract with ABC News, represented an international fugitive, and served on corporate boards. His ventures have ranged from the business world to the sports industry.
In 2018, the Christies purchased a multimillion-dollar shorefront home in an exclusive Jersey Shore town, further solidifying their affluent lifestyle. Though Christie’s business activities have received limited attention since leaving public office, his recent presidential campaign against former President Donald Trump has shed new light on his financial success.
A comprehensive examination of corporate and government records, along with interviews with over 30 sources familiar with Christie’s lobbying and consulting work, reveals his profit-seeking endeavors and ties to Trump. Companies in industries such as pharmaceuticals, medicine, and sports betting have paid Christie millions to leverage his political connections. DraftKings, for instance, hired Christie as a consultant, a fact not previously reported.
Christie 55 Solutions earned approximately $1.3 million in federal lobbying fees between April 2020 and April 2021, according to federal records. The firm also received over $800,000 in consulting fees from Pacira Biosciences, a pharmaceutical company with a significant presence in New Jersey. Christie himself earns around $400,000 annually as a contributor to ABC News. Before joining ABC, Christie had multiple networks vying for his services.
The total value of Christie’s financial ventures is challenging to calculate, as many of his contracts and consulting work are not publicly disclosed. Additionally, Christie has not yet been required to submit a personal financial disclosure as a federal candidate.
While it is not unusual for former public officials from both parties to seek financial gain from political donors and corporate allies, Christie’s case raises questions about the impartiality of someone with such extensive interests. Typically, politicians attempt to distance themselves from private interests after leaving office, but Christie appears to have retained numerous adjacent interests.
Christie’s connection to DraftKings, for example, stems from his position as governor, during which he played a leading role in legalizing sports betting. His role as a consultant for Scientific Games, a lottery company, also ties back to his time as governor. Scientific Games sought Christie’s advice on entering the sports betting market.
Pharmaceutical companies have also featured prominently in Christie’s business dealings. After leaving office, he led the President’s Commission on Opioids, giving him a national platform to address an issue he had focused on as governor. As part of this role, Christie included suggestions from industry insiders in the commission’s final report. Pacira Biosciences, which produces a non-opioid painkiller called Exparel, paid Christie 55 Solutions for consulting work and eventually appointed Christie to its board.
Christie’s financial ventures, although not as extensive as Trump’s, still raise concerns about the erosion of norms in the Trump era. Registering as a lobbyist, which Christie did, has traditionally been seen as incompatible with pursuing further political office. The extent of Christie’s other interests may compromise his impartiality.
In conclusion, Chris Christie has leveraged his political connections and profile to generate personal wealth through various business ventures. From consulting for fantasy sports companies to representing pharmaceutical interests, Christie’s financial pursuits have drawn scrutiny. The total value of his ventures is unclear, but they have allowed him to make millions while challenging traditional norms surrounding lobbying and political involvement.
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